CALDWELL CO., N.C. -- A man in Caldwell County is in jail under a $350,000 bond Thursday on charges of trafficking, maintaining a dwelling for drugs and possession of a controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school.

Police said 44-year-old Jose De La Sancha had nearly 7 pounds of cocaine on his property, which is located next to Horizon’s Elementary School in Hudson. Investigators said they found drugs in a hidden compartment of the wheel well of the man’s car.

“It's very close to a school and one thing we try to do in this county is try to keep drugs away from students, teenagers and young kids, as well,” Caldwell County Sheriff Alan Jones said.

Officers said they also found $40,000 in cash at De La Sancha’s home.

He admitted to owning the car, but said he didn’t know about the drugs when he bought the vehicle six months ago.

“When I tried to change the brakes, the cocaine and money [were] inside,” De La Sancha said.

Parents of children who attend the elementary school said they were shocked by the charges.

“People need to have more respect,” parent Susan Francum said. “Have respect for your neighbors [and] have respect for other people, especially kids."

De La Sancha told Eyewitness News he didn't deal drugs to any children and didn't know what to do with the cocaine when he discovered it in his car months ago.

“[The police] would probably arrest me. That's why I didn't call,” he said.

Officers said the street value of the cocaine they found is around $30,000.